Dis-organising Resolution

The "Organizing Resolution", a relatively simple piece of legal documentation that allows the Imperial Parliament to start work. It requires the Speaker to declare who the leader of the majority is, who the leader of the minority is and also who the speaker for the next session is to be.

Despite the relative simplicity this process, the parliament is currently making a rather large meal out of the process. Instead of pro-activity, typical ACP-AAP niggling has taken over. At a time when the Empire really needs the Parliament to step up to the plate and be active in the real Parliamentary sense of the word, that is getting things done, they choose to stall over who should be the speaker.

Pete James (AAP) has but himself forward, a refreshing change perhaps following what seems like the interminable stewardship of Matthieu Poiters (ACP)? Apparently not. James has been accused of being a dictator by Jose Frias (ACP):

in the times that he has been speaker, he has treated the speakership as a dictatorship, threatening to throw out bills left and right, especially targeted were conservative bills.

James responded by declaring that he had always been fair and impartial. Adding to this he stated that:

The Speakership of Mssr. Poitiers has proved to be inefficient and lead to inactivity, and emergency elections.

In a certain ironic twist, John Carmichael (AAP), was quick to point out that the version of the Organising Resolution that the current Speaker, Poiters, has posted contained errors. He remarked: n discussing this resolution,

I would like to state firstly that my name is spelt wrong. Secondly, my party ceased to exist under the name of the Alexandrian Anti-Party for a number of Parliaments now.

I think that a lot of what this situation comes down to is that Poiters fears the loss of his position - perhaps the loss of the speakership will expose his weaknesses as a Parliamentarian? Equally, the AAP suffers from a substantial amount of jealousy over the amount of power the ACP effortlessly manage to retain from Parliament to Parliament - so are they trying to gain a more solid foothold in a Parliament that seems unwilling to grant them such a luxury?

One thing is for sure, they need to stop the backbiting and stop dredging up insignificant facts from the past and get this resolution passed once and for all.

Inaction of the Speaker Crippling Parliament

Felix Cavendish, speaker for the Imperial Parliament, is by his inaction preventing the democratically elected institutions of the Empire from functioning. Two bills are still waiting to have their debate started, one of which has been on hold since April 29th this year, the other since May 2nd.

The Path to Provincehood Act and the Private Forums Access Act 2007 are currently sitting in the government's debating chamber with the Prime Minister, Jose Frias, surely growing impatient to the Parliaments forced inaction. In both instances the Prime Minister has been left asking "Is this debate open?" Questions must be asked as to why the Speaker is taking no action, or why in his absense, there is no one substituting his position.

It is the feeling of this writer that not only do politicians have a duty to speed up the governmental processes in Alexandria, but the speaker too has a very important role to play in combatting inaction.

Frias Must Wake-Up the Legislature

Geneva, Alexandria. To the casual observer of Alexandrian politics the passing of the resolution to formally announce the formation of a conservative government can't come a moment too soon. The pace of legislative life in our Empire is currently resembling the pace of life that any two-toed sloth can be found enjoying in any zoo worldwide.

Jose Frias, the Prime Minister, presented a dynamic front prior to the election during campaigning, but now must be seen to push the government into action. Similarly Frias must be seen to take action against absenteeism in the parliament and lead by example by pushing through legislation promised to voters.

For the casual observer the wait goes on, but hopefully inaction will be combatted before the parliamentary seat gather dust and cobwebs.